David Nicholls 6th Degree Black Belt. A Senior Instructor (36 years teaching with a Masters in Sports and Exercise Science (MSc. SES). A former full contact fighter and co founder of San Shou Kuan, David has taught many National full contact and light contact champions. David also teaches short intensive martial arts courses to professional actors to help solidify their skills for stage and action combat. Still a keen student of martial arts, EXEC board member of the BCCMA.

Martyn has been training in martial arts for over 20 years and still competes at National and International level, recently competing in China. A 5th Dan in Kung Fu, 4th Dan in Sanshou and a Brown belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu, Martyn is a well rounded Martial Artist covering lessons in stand up and ground game.

Club secretary

Chen Style Taijiquan Classes in North Wales and Merseyside.
www.taiji-cymru.co.uk

I started T’ai Chi and Feng Shou in 1978 in Swansea. 1985 I moved to Dunstable and continued teaching there until 1997 when I moved to the Reading area where my current sessions are run.

l am currently teaching T’ai Chi and Feng Shou in North Yorkshire. I started my martial arts training in Judo at age 11, and later in Feng Shou at the age of 14. I have maintained my practice of the Li style through to the present day. In 2004 I competed successfully in the BCCMA National Championships in Sanshou. Through my work as a PE Teacher I have acquired many coaching qualifications in traditional sports and worked with many top national and international coaches.

Founder member and has trained with Chee Soo and Tony Swanson in Li family arts since 1979

Tai Chi is a very important part of my life but I also love family time, travelling, spending time with friends and singing. I am a sociable person and love being out and about. Theatre cinema, live music clubs are favourite pass times. Church time is also massive in my life and I am lucky to belong to a supportive church family. Keeping fit and strong has become a recent focus and I spend time in the gym, swimming and doing a variety of classes. My working life is with children and teaching.

I have been training in the Li style of Tai Chi for over 25 years and have been a qualified instructor for the last 10 years. I have found that Tai Chi has kept me fit, healthy and flexible for many years. The information passed to me through my instructor Tony Swanson (the TAO’s technical director) has been invaluable and I’m still learning. The art of Tai Chi has lots of possibilities to help you in your life, keeping you calm, your body and mind flexible. improves balance general wellbeing.

Janet has been teaching Li family style T’ai Chi classes since 2011, and her classes are for adults of all ages and levels of fitness. She has been a member of the Taoist Arts organisation (TAO) since 1995 and attends regular instructor courses, training with Tony Swanson. Previously Janet was a student of Yoga for 10 years, and for a brief time was introduced to Karate and Judo. Following a back injury, she started learning Yang style T’ai Chi and then Li style and became a member of the ITS

Jane is a founder member of the TAO and has been training with Tony Swanson since 1993. She started Tai Chi to help manage the stress of work and within a few months started Feng Shou and Chi Shu for self-defence. Jane became a T’ai Chi Instructor in 2000 and a Feng Shou Instructor in 2002. Since then, Jane has competed successfully in martial arts and T’ai Chi competitions. She says that learning T’ai Chi is a fascinating, lifelong journey and she continues to be amazed by what she learns.

I have been doing Tai chi for around Twenty years. I am an instructor in Kyle of Lochalsh, which is near The Isle of Skye. I keep my training up to date by continually going on other Tai Chi courses ran through out the UK. I welcome new students any time of the year.

Shifu Matt is a 5th Degree practitioner in Shaolin Northern Long Fist, Full-Contact Sanda, Lost Family Style Taiji and a number of Qi Gong systems (Hard and Soft). He has trained diligently since 1984 under Master Chet Alexander and has trained students to win several national and international competitions in both traditional and modern Wushu and Sanda.

Currently Chairman of the BCCMA (Governing Body), Tony has extensive knowledge of the Li family system. Before training with the late Prof. Chee Soo, Tony had already gained a 3rd Dan in Wado Ryu Karate and a 1st Dan in Judo. Tony has over 40 years of martial arts experience and is one of the highest qualified and respected instructors of the Li family system in Great Britain. Tony has received 3 successive Combat ‘Hall of Fame’ awards.

I started training in Li style Tai Chi in 1988 due to a general interest in Taoist philosophy and traditional martial arts. I continued with it as I found it very beneficial to my sense of wellbeing. Over the years I have had the pleasure of training with other teachers in different styles and have always been pleased that what I was taught by Tony Swanson and the TAO was always equal to some of the best that I have trained with in both the USA and China.

On a friend’s recommendation I joined a Tai Chi class taught by Tony Swanson. That was over 20 years now. I’m bit of a sports nut, so have done a lot of different sports in my time, judo for 6 years being one of them. I still enjoy going to the gym, swimming, & badminton each week along with Tai Chi. Plus a lot of walking with our dogs !

David has been involved in the field of body and qi work since 1979 and as well as a registered Acupuncturist, Tui Na Master Practitioner and Chinese Formula Herbalist is also a registered T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Kung Fu instructor, Reflexologist and Swedish Masseur. In addition, David has also been working in the field of closed systems – physical, mechanical and electrical, for over 30 years. This experience enables David to find the system imbalances that other people may not recognise.

I have been practising Tai Chi for over 25 years and been teaching for the last ten years. As well as regular classes I have taught short courses and groups in a nursing home. I am a Tuina practitioner and also enjoy cycling, walking and photography. Another interest is leading discussion groups for the International Hermaneutic Society which I have done for the past 25 years.

I fell into martial arts in my late 30’s when my son showed an interest. I found a hobby/sport I could actually do and get benefit from that did not bore me! Kong Sudo and Tai chi are polar opposites in my eyes, with the Kong sudo, hard and rushing down the river to crush the opposition. Then the T’ai Chi much softer and flowing through the boulders winding its way downstream forcing all off its path.

I’ve been doing tai chi since the early naughties and regularly attend instructor training and residential courses to improve my skills and knowledge.